Leander 24/1/2002
Sending it
It had to happen. It was only a matter of time. Wellington finally blew and blew hard. Some dithering at the start of the should we/shan't we kind, delayed the start. The local expert Hoggie drove down to Evans Bay to check conditions out. He assured everyone it was fine, a nice 20 knots, dropping to 10 at the top mark. The hardest part would be getting out there. But when he put on his storm rig, it lead some of us not to trust him and followed suit. Much fun was made by the 12 foot sailors of Subwoofer's tiny 3 m2 jib, but Paul had the last laugh in the end. Hoggie was right in that getting out was hard. Some vicous gusts and lulls on the two-sail reach to Point Jerningham saw most people can and some not make it to the race area. He was wrong about the 10 knots at the top mark however, as the fleet was confronted with a gusty 28-35 knot northerly and lumpy seas in Evans Bay. This meant some boats elected to two-sail down to the start line. This unfortunately didn't mean it was any easier however, as no lift from the kite meant there were a number of nice mines on the way down. Some did have more Go-Nads and sent it all the way. Some enjoyed it so much they went back up and had another go. Some however didn't send it and were meekly returned to sender. The prospect of ending on rocks at the bottom of the bay, or the narrow gap in the marina getting back in lacked appeal, so they beached the boats on the far side of Evans Bay, before going and getting the trailers. For the record, those that sent it:
Sends: Stagecoach: 3 Better Business by Design: 2 Subwoofer: 1 Dimension Polyant: 1 Liquid: 0.15 (for 15 seconds of glory)
Returned to Sender: Design Source, Smit Millar, Chemical Weapon, Bertha.
Swims: I think everybody had a few swims today, but as everybody knows, not all swims are the same, so I have noted down those that stand out. Noteworthy are those that didn't swim (much). Both 92 MoreFM and Subwoofer restricting things to one swim apiece I believe. Smit Millar; One nice cartwheel while showing off in front of the committee boat. One nice can in a big gust. Ginge had dived to leeward in a big lull, as the boom drifted to windward. Then hit by a big gust, the boom flew back, cracking him a beauty in the temple and knocking him overboard. Just as people were swimmimg to his rescue, he surfaced with a dazed look, and a cracked carbon boom. I think he might make them of a softer material in the future. (Like foam). Meridian; Managed 6-7 cartwheels getting home I'm told. Chemical Weapon; Indeterminate in number. (They spent most of their time upside down).
Chemical Weapon tried to influence the race officers to abandon by achieving a 2 sail cartwheel adjacent to the committee boat, and staying upside down for the next 15 minutes. The fact that only a third of the fleet was upright at any one time may have infulenced them more, as well as the 30+ knot winds, so they sent us back. Hoggie was wrong about one more thing. The hardest part was not going out, it was coming back in. It was achieved by all however. So it was back to the bar for a bit of boasting and fortunately little repairing, the fleet coming off relatively unscathed.
So the Leander was over, the overnight results standing. A new winner was found (or old winners refound?). Steve Macintosh picks up his 8th title in 7 different boats, his first steering. Crew Kenny Fyfe picking up his 6th title. Defending champions Alex Vallings and Andy Meikeljohn on Smit Millar come in second. The very consistant Meridian Energy finish third, the only boat not to have a race out of the top five. Chemical Weapon and Liquid round out the top five.